Volunteer Tennessee Commission announces $7.4 million in AmeriCorps Grants to 18 Tennessee organizations

Published 10:12 am Wednesday, July 6, 2022

NASHVILLE – On Tuesday, July 5, Volunteer Tennessee, the state’s governor-appointed commission on volunteerism and service,  announced that Tennessee received nearly $7.4 million in AmeriCorps grant funding from AmeriCorps, the federal agency responsible for national service and volunteer programs.

Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness in Johnson City will receive funding in the amount of $345,182 where 16 AmeriCorps members will work on housing and social services in East Tennessee.

These grants will support nearly 900 AmeriCorps members across the state as they serve with 18 organizations. The AmeriCorps members will tackle critical challenges in Tennessee, including supporting students with tutoring and mentoring, providing health services, restoring the environment, increasing economic opportunities, and recruiting and managing volunteers.

“National service is an essential part of the solution to many of the toughest problems facing our state,” said Donovan Robertson, Chair of the Volunteer Tennessee commission. “These AmeriCorps members will meet pressing local needs and strengthen communities as they develop civic and leadership skills to last a lifetime. I congratulate these outstanding organizations and thank all those who serve their communities through AmeriCorps.”

Of the $580 million awarded in AmeriCorps State and National federal funding, $7.4 million will be granted to Volunteer Tennessee, which in turn will award grants to nonprofit organizations and public agencies across the state. The law creating AmeriCorps gave a key role to states in determining how national service resources are used and in promoting service and volunteering to meet community needs.

Every year, 250,000 AmeriCorps members serve through over 2,000 schools, nonprofits, and community and faith-based organizations across the country. These citizens have played a critical role in the recovery of communities affected by COVID and natural disasters and helped thousands of first-generation college students access higher education.

AmeriCorps’ unique model means that the grants announced today will leverage an additional $15 million from the private sector, foundations, and other sources – further increasing the return on the federal investment.

AmeriCorps will also provide nearly $6 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants in Tennessee. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of approximately $6,500 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.

The grants awarded will support AmeriCorps members in all three regions of Tennessee, including Teach for America, Hands On Nashville, Emerald Youth Foundation, and Bridges USA. A complete list of awards, including organizations and funding totals can be found online at https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/volunteertn/documents/press_releases/AmeriCorps%20Tennessee_FY22_Volunteer%20TN_Press%20Release.pdf